Cone Ranch is a unique and extremely valuable asset belonging to the taxpayers of Hillsborough County. But it is threatened by a deal to allow the Florida Conservation and Environmental Group (FCEG) to sell it off at the very bottom of the real estate market. ...more

October 31, 2009

The Hillsborough County Commission heard from its Citizens Advisory Committee on Thursday about a host of issues that the appointed board hopes to address this year. ...more

May 15, 2009

Please help me get this right. Hillsborough County schools are in a budget crisis. The school system wants to spend $42,000 to engrave school laptops with identifying marks to prevent theft. Is there no one capable within the system who can use an etching tool to mark these laptops? ...more

April 23, 2009

Repeal ridiculous sales tax exemptions? Never. Just cut the budget and reduce services. Lay off workers so they will not be able to pay their property taxes. Add more seniors to the waiting list for Meals on Wheels - they really don't need to eat much. Put 40 kids in a classroom so they can really get to know each other. ...more

April 2, 2009

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner suggested Tuesday that commissioners look at cutting their own salaries or benefits as a symbolic gesture to show empathy for county employees facing layoffs. ...more

April 1, 2009

If something we read recently is correct, then the old saw about the Chinese ideogram for the word crisis being made up of one element denoting danger and the other opportunity is wrong. Regardless, Pasco County is facing a bit of a budget crisis because of falling revenue. So while the county's taxing and spending status quo appears in danger, Pasco officials are taking the opportunity to take a look at how Pasco will change over the next few years and how county government will fit into that change. ...more

April 1, 2009

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner suggested today that commissioners look at cutting their own salaries or benefits as a symbolic gesture to show empathy for county employees facing layoffs. ...more

March 31, 2009

Chalk up another consequence of Florida's budget crisis: annual report reminders for business are going all-digital. ...more

March 31, 2009

While there's been plenty of discussion on ways to reduce future costs associated with high school athletics in Florida's public schools, many of Hillsborough County's coaches are feeling the crunch of state-mandated budget cuts right now when it comes to transporting their athletes. ...more

March 24, 2009

Drama students at Mitchell High will take to the stage tonight for a production of "Peter Pan," but even as they perform the high-flying musical there are concerns about the future of the school's drama department. ...more

March 5, 2009